Indicator fob



, May 19, 1925.

c, s. COLE I INDICATOR FOR FEED WATER PfmPs Filed Sept. 8, 1924 Patented May 19, 1925.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CARTER s. corn, or nannrsnune, PENNSYLVANIA.

mmoaron roe FEED-WATER. PUMPS.

Application filed September To (ZZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CARTER S. Conn, a citizen of the United States, residing at Harrisburg, in the county of Dauphin and Stateof Pennsylvania, have invented certain new. and useful Improvements in Indi: cators for Feedater Pumps, of which the following is a specification. Thisinvention relates to an indicator for use in conjunction with the suction line of a feed water pump of a locomotive, and has for its principal GlJjElCt to provide a means whereby the worklng conditions of the pump .niay be ascertained at all times.

Another important object of the invention is to provide an indicator of the above mentioned character, which will, atall times, be positive and efficient in its operation, and in addition to indicating the working conditions of the pump the same will also provide a means for indicating the delivery of water to the boiler. 7

Another important object of the-invention is to provide an indicator of the above mentioned character, which 18 snnple 1n construction', inexpensive, strong and durable,

and further, well adapted for the purposes for which it is designated. p 7 Other objects and advantages of tlns invention will become apparent during the course of the following description."

In the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this application, and inwhich like numerals designate like parts throughout the same: y H

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the indicator embodying my invention, showing'the same associated with the suction pipe of a feed water pump, and

der, and the same communicates with the upper portion of the cylinder, the lower end of the bore being internally screw threaded as illustrated at 5, whereby the indicator may be connected to the suction pipe 6 of a per face of the plug 8.

8, 1924. Serial No. 736,659.

feed water pump of any well known construction, by means of the connector pipe 7 rtplug Sis threaded in the upper portion of the cylinder 2, and the same is provided with a central opening 9, the purpose of which will be presently described.

Adapted for reciproca tory' movement within the cylinder 2 is a piston 10. A

stem 11v is formed on the upper face of the piston 10 and the same extends upwardly through the opening E). provided in the plug 8, in the manner clearly illustrated in Figure 2. This stem provides the indicating means for the feed water pump.

at coilfspriug or other resilient means of the expansible type is arranged within the cylinder, the'lower end thereof being disposed in the seat 18 provided in the upper portion of thebore 4E and the upper end of the coil spring 12 is disposed within a suitable socket 14, provided in the bottom of the piston 'lO, in the manner as shown in F igure 2. The coil spring 12 isof such a tension as to normally hold the piston in its uppermost position within the cylinder,

whereby the upper end of the stem 11 extends for a suitable distance above the up- The operation of my improved indicator f .inay be briefly stated as follows:

The indicator is permanently located in the cab of a locomotive, wherebythe same may be readily visible to the engineer. Each stroke of the feed water pump causes a vacuum of from three to five pounds in the suction line associated with the pump,

and the vacuum thus formed will move the .fpistonpin downwardlywithin the cylinder against the tension of the coil spring 12. The coil spring will return the piston to its normal position, and by watching the vibration or reciprocation ofthe cylinder 11, the

number of strokes per minute that the pump 18 making and the character of. the, strokes may be readily and accurately ascertained.

If too-high a vacuum obtained in the suction line, as by the partial or complete stoppage of the tank screen, the piston 10 will descend to the bottom of the cylinder and overcome the tension of the coil spring so as to prevent the coil spring from returning the piston and the indicator stem to its normal position.

In this position, the condition of the feed water pump wherein the same maintains a high vacuum may be readily revealed.

In case the feed water pump does not maintain a sufficient vacuum to cause the piston and the indicator carried thereby to move downwardly within the cylinder, this condition will be readily apparent upon examining or watching the indicator. In this manner, the engineer is warned of the fact that the feed water pump is not operating properly and that repairs thereto are neces sary.

The provision of an indicator for feed water pumps for locomotives of the above mentioned character not only will indicate the working condition of the pump but also the delivery of the water to the boiler. The simplicity of my improved indicator enables the same to be readily and easily placed in position in connection with the suction line o1 a feed water pump, and may furthermore be assembled or disassembled as the case necessitates. Emphasis is to be laid on the fact that the device is associated with the suction end of the pump through the medium of the suction pipe (5 and the connector pipe 7, which leads into the engine cab and terminates on an appropriate plane to permit the indicator to be readily viewed. By associating the device with the suction end of the pipe only, it is clear that only suction is active upon the piston in moving it downwardly. The device, however, is rendered exceedingly sensitive by the dis position of the springs between the bottom of the cylinder and the piston. In this way, the spring constitutes a means which is separate and independent of the pump, for auto matically returning the piston to its uppermost position. At the same time, the ten sion of the spring must be overcome on the down stroke produced by the suction. It will therefore be evident that I have evolved and produced an indicator which is moved in one direction by the suction from the pump against the engine of automatically operable resiliency, independent of the pump, which functions not only to render the devic highly sensitive but to return the indicator to its normal position.

lVhile I have shown the preferred embodiment of my invention, it is to be understood that changes in the size, shape and arrangement of parts may be resorted to, within the field of invention claimed.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. An indicator for the suction end of a locomotive feed water pump comprising a cylinder having a piston chamber, the wall of which is imperiorate, said cylinder being open at its opposite ends, a closure for the upper end thereof, said closure being provided with an opening, a piston including a head and a stem, said head fitting snugly but slid-ably within said piston chamber, and said stein extending through the opening in said closure, and resilient means interposed between the bottom of the piston head and said chamber, whereby to normally maintain the head in contact with the closure and compelling the suction, active on the head, to draw the latter downwardly against the tension of said spring.

L. An indicator for the suction line of a locomotive feed water pump comprising a cylinder embodying a piston chamber hav ing an impertorate wall, said cylinder having a. central bore extending through the bottom thereof and communicating with said chamber, said here being counter-bored at its opposite ends to form a spring seat at the inner end, the remaining counter bore being screw threaded for connection to the suction line, a closure plug for the upper end of said chamber, said plug being formed with a central opening, a piston slidably mounted in said chamber, said piston including a head fitting snugly and slidably within said chamber, and a central stem projecting therefrom and extending slidably through the opening in said plug, said stem constituting an indicator, said head being formed in its bottom with a socket in align ment with the aforesaid spring seat, and a coiled spring having one end extending into said socket and the opposite end into said seat.

In a feed water pump for locomotives, suction pipe adapted to be connected to the pump, a connector pipe in communication with the suction pipe and adapted to extend into the engine cab of the locomotive, and pump indicating means on said connector pipe, said means embodying an indicator of the reciprocating type, said indicator being moved in one direction solely by the suction created in said pump, and automatically operable means independent of the pump, for moving said indicator in an opposite direction, and for normally maintaining the indicator in a predetermined position.

a. In a feed water pump for locomotives, a suction pipe adapted to be connected to the pump, a connector pipe in communication with the suction pipe and adapted to extend in o the engine cab of the locomotive, a pump indicating means on said connector piie, said means embodying an indicator of the reciprocating type, said indicator being moved in one direction solely by the suction created in said pump, and resilientmeans in association with said indicator for moving the latter in an opposite direction, and for maintaining it in a predetermined position, when the pump is not operating.

5. In a "feed water pump for locomotives, a suction pipe adapted to be connected to the pump, a connector pipe in communication with the suction pine. and adapted to extend into the engine cab'of the locomotive, and indicating means carried by said connector pipe, said indicator means comprising a cyiinder, an air-tight piston siidable in said cylinder and carrying an indicating stem, said piston being adapted to be sucked downwardly in the cylinder, and means independinder, and for yieldabiy resisting the downward movement thereof, underthe action of the suction.

In testimony whereof I afrix my signature.

CARTER S. COLE. 7' 

